Archie Debates Gun Control And Urban Crime In ‘Life With Archie’ #31 (Really)

If you're like me, you've always wanted to see Archie and Jughead debate gun control.

Okay, now that I've actually typed that out, I'm willing to accept that, in this particular regard, none of you are actually like me at all and weren't actually hoping to see that. And yet, we live in a magical world where this is actually happening, in the pages of this week's Life With Archie #31. Check out a preview below of both the "Archie Marries Veronica" story (where Riverdale is caught in the grip of an urban crime wave and a collapsing economy) and the "Archie Marries Betty" universe (where dudes are gettin' shot all the time) -- plus an awesome variant cover by Stephanie Buscema!

Here's the official solicitation:

LIFE WITH ARCHIE #31

The Eisner-nominated series continues with Life With Archie #31! In “Archie Marries Veronica,” Riverdale’s been hit hard by a string of misfortunes. Most recently there was a horrific mass shooting at a nearby mall, and then Fred Mirth fled town and took most of his money and businesses with him! These unfortunate events have been affecting the Riverdale gang pretty hard—Jughead’s Chocklit Shoppe is unlikely to succeed, and Veronica’s been arrested for fraud! Her connection to Kevin isn’t helping his candidacy much, either. How can Riverdale possibly recover?

Then, in “Archie Marries Betty,” Archie’s having a hard time being the smiling husband he needs to be, especially since he never seems to get to see his wife anymore! Can Archie stay supportive of Betty, or will he make a choice he’ll end up regretting? And Archie’s not the only one with relationship woes. Jellybean had to dump her boyfriend Davey after he tried to rob the Chocklit Shoppe! Unfortunately the burglaries weren’t the worst of the crimes to hit Riverdale. What’s happened to the idyllic small town, USA?

Script: Paul Kupperberg
Art: Fernando Ruiz, Pat and Tim Kennedy, Bob Smith, Jim Amash, and Jack Morelli
Cover: Fernando Ruiz, Bob Smith, Glenn Whitmore
Variant Cover: Stephanie Buscema
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: 7/31
48-page, full color comic

First up, in the Archie-Marries-Veroncia-verse, everyone is miserable. I coulda told 'em that would happen.

Meanwhile, in the alternate timeline where Archie marries Betty, things are.. uh... still pretty miserable, actually:

Life With Archie #31 is out this week!